How Memento Transformed Grief into Artful Urns with WooCommerce

Memento Memorials: Crafting Healing Art

Memento Memorials started when web developer and woodworker Chris Harvan faced a string of personal losses. Instead of stepping back, he turned to sculpture and woodwork to find relief. The process of shaping wood into a meaningful object offered comfort. That initial project—a rocket-shaped urn—was meant for his niece. But the reaction from friends and family revealed a new path: people would pay for a handcrafted vessel that honored the memory of a loved one. Chris spotted an opportunity to blend creative craft with digital tools. He incorporated the business in 2012 in Ohio and began taking commissions. From day one, empathy was at the core of his work, rather than mere aesthetics.

Choosing WooCommerce for a Flexible Storefront

When it was time to sell online, Chris landed on WooCommerce. He wanted a setup that balanced cost, control, and customization. WooCommerce delivered on all fronts. With no monthly fees beyond hosting and a vast plugin library, he avoided high platform costs. Themes and extensions allowed him to tailor the checkout process for funeral homes and individual buyers. The store layout is clean, its easy to navigate. That extra step in user experience made every visit feel personal.

Behind the Scenes: Key Extensions

• Formidable Forms Pro for custom order forms
• WooCommerce Deposits to collect partial payments
• WooCommerce Google Product Feed for search visibility
• WooCommerce Catalog Visibility Options for tiered pricing
• Yoast SEO to improve search rankings

Serving Funeral Homes and Families

Beyond individual orders, Chris built a tiered catalog so funeral directors see special pricing and can order at scale. A custom checkout field captures referral names and automates commission tracking. Partial payment via deposits keeps work moving without surprises. This dual approach stabilizes cash flow and strengthens B2B relationships. The system runs on the same WooCommerce engine, so new options or products roll out to both audiences in a single dashboard.

Lessons Learned on Pricing and Growth

• Base pricing on research, not guesswork, to remove doubt.
• Balance one-off commissions with scalable product lines.
• Partner when a project needs deep expertise, rather than doing it all solo.

Empathy Through Every Step

Each product is more than a container. It’s designed to nourish a basic human need: remembrance. When an urn arrives, families see the craftsmanship and feel the intent. That’s what drives repeat business and word-of-mouth referrals. Chris’s mission—to ease pain through art—guides every design decision. The result is a sustainable craft business built on real connections and a reliable ecommerce engine.

Bringing Comfort to Every Customer

Now, Memento Memorials ships custom urns across North America. The blend of woodwork, digital storefronts, and thoughtful service turns a difficult purchase into a moment of solace. It’s proof that the right tools and a clear mission can help small businesses thrive, even in the toughest markets.